Deep Wolves (9 page)

The heat from the flames started to work. Combined with Irvine’s jacket, I was more comfortable than I’d ever been since we first stepped foot into these woods. So much had happened but more than anything, I was just happy nobody was killed and everybody was safe for the time being. I did my best to empty my head of the negative thoughts of what was happening in New York at this moment. But there was still a long journey ahead of us. I knew that there were even more clans for us to deal with.

I looked up at the sky and tried to lose myself in the stars. I inhaled a deep breath and sighed. The night couldn’t be over soon enough.

“Do you mind if I sit here?”

I whipped my head around and saw a man standing just in front of me. He wasn’t like the rest of the Doras. He was older, his skin tight but showing signs of wear and tear. He was thin and his white hair was the same. I could see the age in his old, brown eyes. Unlike his brethren, he wore a torn pair of pants to cover himself. Even though I didn’t know who he was, I could see the kindness in his face.

“N-no, I don’t mind.”

“You wouldn’t have complained even if you
did
mind.”

He chuckled at me as he took a seat. I couldn’t help but laugh at his response. He crossed his legs right next to me and together, we stared at the flames dancing in front of us.

“This is a special occasion,” he said.

“Why is that?”

“It’s not often we get to spend time with ordinary humans out here.”

“…So it’s happened before?”

“We get stragglers coming around from time to time. Campers who are hiking through and stumble upon our camp.”

“What do you do to them?” I gulped.

He looked at me with confusion on his face then sighed.

“Do to them?” he said. “Hikers are of no concern to us. There is nothing
to
do to them.”

“I’m sorry, I—”

“It’s okay. I understand the misconception. Times have changed... My name is Yung.”

“Yung… I’m Ariel.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Ariel. And I do mean that. You can tell just by looking at me that I’ve been around a long time. I’ve seen a lot of things…

“When people stumble around here, we shift and leave them be. I could understand your skepticism. With what’s been going on with the Nakas, there’s no question that relations between the humans and wolves is being strained. But we are old-fashioned. We have no business with humans. As far as they know, we’re only wolves. You… You’re a curious woman. You’re aware of our presence. Most humans don’t know of us.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make any assumptions. It’s just—”

“There’s no need to explain yourself, young lady. Wolves are dangerous. You should always have your guard up.”

“How long have you been out here?”

“Me? A long time. I don’t want to say exactly because I don’t want to embarrass myself. But I’ve been here longer than anybody here. Although times have changed, we’re still a peaceful tribe. I’ve instilled the same values in Cyrus that I had.”

“What do you mean?”

The old man sighed. I looked at him and he was still staring at the flames. The fire danced in his eyes. I was wondering if I’d said something wrong but he continued.

“I was once the Alpha of this clan.”

“What?”

“Yes,” he chuckled. “Don’t be so surprised. I was as strong and powerful as all of the other beasts you see here.”

“What happened?”

“What else happened? I’ve grown old, Ariel. Cyrus challenged me for leadership of the clan and he won easily. It was only a matter of time before I would be forced to pass the title to him. I should be dead at this point. The only reason he keeps me alive is to give himself a reminder of his victory.”

He exhaled a deep breath and then turned to me. I saw a strange smile develop on his face. I looked at him with confusion, wondering what he was thinking.

“Look at them,” he said. “They lie around without a care in the world. The only thing they’re concerned with is filling their bellies and finding another female to stuff their cocks in. This peace has dulled their instincts. But you… you are something different. I feel alive from simply sitting next to you, Ariel.”

“W-what do you mean?” I swallowed.

“Not in that way, Ariel,” he laughed. “I have no interest in taking another mate. That time has passed. But what I see in you and your mate… It’s a union I’ve never seen before and it reminds me that there’s so much more to all of this. I see life in you, Ariel.”

He stared at me and I was unsure of how to respond. He spoke to me like I had known him for years. I was growing comfortable around him already.

“Your words,” I started. “Your words are kind. I don’t know what to say.”

“There’s nothing for you to say, Ariel. You came here with a Hunter. A man known for killing our kind. And the one you sleep with has proven himself more than capable. That should be enough reassurance for you. But just know that you are safe here. I promise you that.”

“…Thank you.”

It was peaceful sitting underneath the stars next to Yung. Even though there were so many people around, it felt like an untouched part of the forest. I felt special just being out here. It was like a secret that only I knew.

I turned my attention back to Irvine and Vaughn. They were continuing to speak with Cyrus. The look on his face was no longer of skepticism and concern. Instead, he looked resigned to accept the facts that the threat was real. As they talked to one another, the blonde woman reappeared and offered the three men something to eat. Even from this distance, I could feel her disgust with me.

“It’s because she’s jealous of you,” Yung said suddenly.

“What?” I said, turning to him.

“Shiva is threatened by you. Shadow has shown that he is capable of leading this clan if we allowed it.”

“But what does that have to do with me?”

“You are the one who lays with him. That means you have something more to offer him than she does. Shiva is a dangerous wolf. She will do whatever it takes to get what she wants.”

“But she can’t have him. She already has a mate.”

“That is true. But her breeding instinct goes beyond her desire to be the mother of her clan. She has a craving that is never satisfied. Cyrus is not the only one she sleeps with. She will make an attempt for Vaughn.”

I looked at her from across the clearing. I watched as she lingered around Vaughn, placing her hands upon him and gently wiping his skin. The devilish smile on her face belied everything Cyrus was telling me.

I swallowed nervously, thinking about what Vaughn might do. She was a beautiful blonde woman. I didn’t question his loyalty. But his instincts were still there. She could offer him something that I could not. He wouldn’t have to hold himself back with someone like her.

“She is threatened by you but that doesn’t mean you should feel the same way,” Yung said to me.

“I… I’m not threatened,” I stuttered. “Vaughn is… He wouldn’t do anything like that.”

“I know. But I can still sense the skepticism and uneasiness in your voice. If you believe you can trust him, then there is nothing to worry about.”

I continued to gaze at them. Even though the men were talking about their business, Shiva still lingered around Vaughn. Her eyes looked him up and down like he was a piece of meat. As I stared, Shiva shifted her attention to me. I held my eyes upon her and narrowed them, angry that she was even considering it. The corner of her lip curled into the tiniest little smile. I gritted my teeth and suddenly found myself trying to keep my composure.

You have nothing to worry about. She is just some woman. So what if she’s beautiful? Vaughn will never betray you…

I was concerned with the threat she posed. Maybe it really was nothing. Or maybe I really was afraid of her and I didn’t want to think about it. Whatever the case, it was obvious that Shiva had already made up her mind. She didn’t like me and there was nothing I could do to change that.

Before I could think any longer about it, Vaughn and Irvine ended their conversation and slowly made their way back to me. Yung smiled at me and excused himself. My boyfriend took a seat next to me and I was quick to wrap my arms around one of his.

“What did he say?” I asked.

“They have our compliance,” Irvine explained. “Cyrus and some of the others will be there when we try to convince the other clans.”

“We were successful,” Vaughn said.

I sighed as I leaned closer to him.

“We should probably return to the motel for the night and get our rest,” Irvine said. “Unless…”

“We can also stay here if you want to,” Vaughn said to me. “Wherever it is you’re comfortable.”

“The choice is up to you, Ms. Everhart.”

They both looked toward me. I enjoyed being outdoors. It reminded me of the intimate moments I spent with Vaughn back home. I wanted to stay out here but then I saw Cyrus sitting in the grass across from me. He sat there while Shiva leaned in close to him, lavishing his face with her tongue. While she did it, her eyes shifted toward me. The sinister smile on her face I had grown so familiar with was more than enough to change my mind.

“Let’s go back,” I said. “Our business here is done.”

Chapter 10

We managed to make it out of the forest unscathed. Vaughn had some cuts and bruises on his body from the fight and his clothes were torn. But he would be okay. That was all that mattered to me.

The ride back to the motel was quiet. He didn’t say anything and I didn’t want to question him. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. I was too busy thinking about other things to think any more about the assignment Irvine had brought us out here for.

It was a long night. When we got back inside our room, I fell upon the bed and curled up next to Vaughn. I rested my head upon his chest and tried to get some sleep for the long day ahead of us. But I kept thinking about the conversation I just had when we were in the forest.

“What is it like?”

“Hmm?”

“The Doras. They’re like you. It must have been nice to be among your own kind again.”

“It wasn’t a very friendly welcome,” he chuckled. “I’m going to have the scars to prove it.”

“But after… They seemed to accept you. Because you were one of them.”

“I earned their respect, I suppose.”

“Some of them seemed to enjoy your company more than others…”

Vaughn sat up on the bed and I was force to the same. He looked at me with confusion as I stared back at him. I clenched my jaw, remembering what I saw.

“What do you mean, Ariel?”

“The girl. Shiva. I saw the way she was looking at you. She wants you.”

“Shiva? She already as the Alpha of her clan—”

“And you beat him.”

“He’s still the Alpha. Nothing changed.”

“What does that matter? She saw that you were stronger than Cyrus. The way she looked at you.”

“Ariel, what are you saying?”

It pained me to think that Vaughn might look in the other direction. I knew it was wrong. I had too much faith in him for him to stray. I could feel the emotions building up inside of me and starting to come out.

“I know that… you care about me,” I whispered. “But I don’t know
who
you are.”

“Ariel?”

“How do I know that your instincts won’t kick in? How do I know that you’re in control? She’s not like me. She’s like you. She can offer you what I can’t.”

“Ariel, you think that I would betray you and leave you?”

I could see the hurt in his eyes that I would even consider it. I didn’t know why I was having these doubts in my head but it was the truth.

“You… You’re not like any other man I’ve ever known.”

“Ariel, I—”

“I just need to know that you’re in control and that you can hold back these instincts.”

I didn’t realize how worked up I had gotten. My eyes were beginning to glaze over. I was taking deep breaths and trying to compose myself. I hated myself for even doubting him. But I couldn’t get it out of my head. The image of the way Shiva danced around him and tried to seduce him was stuck in my thoughts. The tears were beginning to trickle from my eyes. I turned my head down, too ashamed to look at him.

“Wolves are bound by laws. There are rules we follow. It is a code of honor. I’ve broken those rules simply being with you. I wouldn’t go this far just to throw it all away. Ariel, I—”

Crash.

The window of the motel room shattered. Glass flew everywhere. I screamed as Vaughn quickly grabbed me and turned his back to shield me from the blast. The glass crunched underneath us on the bed as we shifted.

Vaughn started to loosen his embrace upon me but I did not do the same to him. My heart was jumping out of me, my chest heaving as I took deep breaths. The feeling in the pit of my stomach was pushing the bile up and it was taking every bit of strength to hold it down. Slowly, I looked toward the open window. There was nothing but the darkness of the city staring back at me. The cold night wind howled as a pretense to something ominous.

“Vaughn—Ahhh!”

A wolf jumped in through the window and snarled at the both of us. The silver beast was showing it’s canines, saliva dripping down from its mouth. Another one quickly joined it and together they stared menacingly at us.

“Vaughn—”

“Stay behind me.”

Vaughn pushed me to the back of the room and growled. He shifted before my eyes and just as he did, the two wolves pounced on top of him.

“Vaughn!”

I felt completely helpless as I watched Vaughn try to fend off the two wolves. It was a whirling dervish of fur and wrath. They snarled and snatched with their jaws. Every time they would gain an advantage, Vaughn would push them off of him and swipe with his forefeet. But just as quickly as he would push them off, they were back upon him.

I braced myself against the back of the wall as I watched Vaughn defend himself. I looked around the apartment for something to help him with. But there was nothing. The entire room had been ripped to shreds. Everything had been knocked over. One of the wolves rushed at Vaughn and slammed him into the wall, creating a massive crater on it. The entire building began to shake as the rubble fell down upon the floor. It felt like the room was beginning to cave in on me.